Episode One, Part 4:
Redemption of the Heart

I'm still a believer, but I don't know why. 
I've never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try. 

"Aeryn, Fenn - use the combination on Chess-" Wynn hurried the words out towards them, unable to take in anyone else's reactions except Tobias'. Before he had even finished speaking, Wynn whipped his blade out of his waistband, ready to defend himself against Tobias' attacks which he knew were coming, surprising everyone by how ready he was.

As a result of his quick thinking, Wynn managed to disarm Tobias relatively easy, but he still knew there were consequences from his decision, one of them being the potential of never seeing Izzy again.

To his side, Elara had crumbled into Kodiak's arms, barely able to keep herself standing as she wailed out in misery, believing that her brother's declaration had severed a line between herself and her daughter. She couldn't see any way around it; she couldn't imagine any resolution that they could come to that would allow Tobias to release Izzy from the shelter.

"No!" She cried out, immune to Kodiak's desperate attempts to soothe her. "No, Wynn! I need Izzy! She needs us!"

Wynn wanted to tell her that he was going to work everything out; that he was already trying to tie together the loose ends of a plan in his mind, but it would have to wait. He knew Kodiak was there for her and out of the corner of his eye, he could see Quill making his way over to them, too. She would survive not knowing for a few minutes.

"It's over, Tobias," Wynn said, chucking his disarmed blade on the ground behind him, allowing Bas to pick it up and stand guard - ready to defend the others in case Tobias tried anything again.

"No! No, it cannot be the end! You have to give me-"

"I'm sorry," Wynn cut him off, genuinely meaning what he said. "I'm sorry Ivy's dead; I know what it's like to lose someone you love-"

"You could not even imagine what I am feeling!" Tobias growled, his voice raw and butchered with pain.

"You know I can," Wynn shook his head, courageously taking a step closer towards him, as if trying to show Tobias that he wasn't afraid of him; that he knew deep down, he didn't want to hurt anyone. "I know what this feels like. I know you can overcome it. I also know that you don't have to put anyone else through this; you can take Kodiak and my sister to the shelter and-"

"I need you to kill me."

"...What?" Wynn stumbled, telling himself that he must have misheard what Tobias said, but he only repeated the same thing - sounding more demanding the second time around.

"I need you to kill me! If Ivy is dead and I cannot save her, I need you to kill me. I cannot do it myself, I am... I am not strong enough."

"You're not thinking clearly," Wynn told him. "I'm not going to do that to you-"

"I'll do it!" Dreea yelled from behind him, suddenly rising to her feet and finding the strength in herself to use her weapon this time. But, before she could make any irrational decisions, Wynn blocked her path and disarmed her of her blade, much to Dreea's frustration.

"Wynn-"

"Go over and sit with Chess!" He ordered, desperate for her to step away so he could deescalate the situation, but he immediately softened as he looked at her, realising the weight of devastation that she was trying to conceal with her anger. "She'll need you there when she wakes up," he said, noticing how his words seemed to calm her; pull her back into a much needed focus. Within seconds, she was chewing on her bottom lip and nodding anxiously, turning around and returning to where Sol was waiting at Chessca's side.

"You dying isn't going to change anything or bring someone back. Believe me. If you want to feel like something good can still come out of this, then you can get Izzy out of the shelter because I guarantee you she's terrified being in there without any of us-"

"You refuse to save Ivy for me yet you still demand I save your people..." Tobias shook his head. "Unbelievable. I was wrong to trust you. You will be wrong for betraying me."

"Tobias-" Wynn tried to reason with him - tried to get him to linger around long enough that he could calm down, but Tobias refused to listen to another word of what anyone had to say and soon took off, disappearing into the trees that surrounded them.

"Should someone go after him?" Bas spoke up, not knowing if it was a smart move to let him get away, let alone if it was safe.

"No. Just keep watch of this area. Make sure no one comes close enough to cause any more trouble," Wynn replied, almost wanting to stall for a little while longer so he could avoid having to confront Elara.

As he turned around to face them, his sister's eyes met his - as though she had been waiting for his attention, and a well-rehearsed look of betrayal was shot his way.

"Elara-"

"You traitor!" She screamed, trying to lunge at him as Wynn approached, but Kodiak held her back, Quill quickly stepping in between both of his siblings as the mediator.

It was then that Wynn understood the decision was the cruelest on him. It wasn't Elara who had to hear her brother - her own protector - give away something she needed to save her daughter, nor was it Sol or Dreea who had to fight against Kodiak's needs for their own gain, but it was Wynn; the boy who had something to lose either way; the boy who the entire world seemed to rest on and more often than not, left him feeling as if every choice he made, despite how covered over in good intentions it may be, was never enough. It was Wynn who world depended on, and Wynn who the world constantly tried to beat down, even after all of the sacrifices he always made.

"Ell, please just listen to me," Wynn begged, struggling to force himself to make eye contact with her. He couldn't stand seeing her so hurt, let alone knowing he was the cause of it.

"I don't care about anything you have to say to me ever again," Elara spat. "That might have been our only chance to get to Izzy, and you've just taken that away and I don't know if I'm ever going to see her again. That's on you, Wynn. I put her in there so she would be safe from all of this and I promised that I would come get her soon, but if I've lost her, if she's lost everyone, that's on you!"

"Tobias doesn't mean-"

"Get away from me..." Elara cut him off, emphasising her point that she didn't want him to talk to her. "I'm serious. Go away, Wynn."

Nervous at the tension that was building between the siblings, Kodiak secured his arms around Elara and pulled her away, trying to give her enough space for her to catch her breath, determined to work out a rescue plan for Izzy in the meantime.

Torn between who he needed to stand by, Quill lingered in his place, letting out a conflicted breath as he looked over at his brother.

"I'm really hoping you have a plan here..." He said, not sure what else he could say to him. He was almost as terrified as Elara and Kodiak at the likelihood of never seeing Izzy again, but he couldn't fathom Wynn, in any scenario, letting that happen.

"Yeah, I do..." Wynn nodded sorely, hating that he noticed Quill was also hurt by him, and it wasn't just their sister who he felt like he had let down. "She's our family and I'd do anything to keep us all together; you know that."

This time, Quill nodded in response, but his hesitancy to meet Wynn's eyes let his brother know how cautious he was to believe him.

"Look," Wynn took in a deep breath, "Kodiak and Elara know the rough location of the shelter; we can send a group of our people to the entrance and get Exile Allegiance's guards to let us in. We have an alliance with them, after all, and Kodiak and I are the Sovereigns of Basilisk - they'll know that they can trust us."

"And if they don't?" Quill asked. "If Tobias is already there and refuses to let anyone in?"

Wynn sighed, not wanting to scare Quill with his answer... "We'll kill them."

"...But the alliance. What about the rest of their people?"

"Yeah, I know," Wynn let out a heavy breath. "I know it could mean we have another war on our hands against Exile Allegiance if worse comes to worst, but I'm going to make sure we get Izzy back. I wouldn't have made this decision if I wasn't sure I could save her."

"Elara's pissed at you."

"I know," Wynn repeated his words again, letting out a miserable laugh. "And I know she's scared out of her mind, but I've got this. I'll make it right. I couldn't live with myself if I hurt her like that. Besides, I honestly don't think Tobias means what he's saying... He's just lost the person he loved; once reality sets back in, he'll realise what he's doing is exactly what Calvin did to Izzy - and Ivy hated him for that, so he'll hand her over."

"Okay," Quill exhaled, trusting that his brother would pull through, no matter how hopeless their situation seemed. "I hope you're right. I'm gonna go check on Ell... You should still probably give her some space."

Wynn didn't have anything to say - suddenly feeling all of his words caught behind a tremendous guilt that sat in his throat. He wanted to take the responsibility of consoling Elara off of Quill's shoulders and more than anything, he wanted to save Elara from the anguish she was feeling entirely, but he couldn't. He couldn't help his siblings and it was one of the most unbearable feelings ever. 

One // Part Four
Use the combination on Chess.

You guys would NOT believe what has been going on in my life for the past 3/4 weeks. I've literally been so unwell to the point where I wasn't eating, I was barely sleeping, I had severe migraines, felt like I was going to pass out numerous times because of the stress I've been feeling because of my job. I'm an au pair which is a live in nanny, and the kids and the parents of my host kids are called my host family, and I live with them and never get a break from seeing them (even on my off days). Because of how much of a nightmare the oldest kid was (and many other factors with the host mom), I decided that I would give them my 2 weeks notice and say that I was going to find a new family. Well... That didn't go down well and they literally kicked me (a young girl in a foreign country with no friends or family) out of their home with an hour notice. The agency I work with have put me up in a hotel (my insurance pays for it) so I'm safe, but like???

They were causing SO much severe stress on me that I was physically unwell and I made the decision to protect myself and my mental and physical health by taking myself out of an environment that was damaging to me, and they??? Do this?? I'm literally fine and I feel SO FREE and SO HAPPY, but yeah, my life's been insane.

That's why updates have been slow; I have literally had barely any energy to write this series (and you guys know how much I love writing these books) and been under constant stress, but everything's going to be fine! Life is tough, but I am tougher!

Anyway, Wynn chose Sol? Elara's reaction broke my heart (and Wynn's) and now it might mean that they never get Izzy back again... There's also no guarantee that the combination will save Chessca and it could all be for nothing. Tensions are high!

Also, I made a joke (to my friend) that when I was given an hour to pack up 8 months worth of my life and leave within an hour, I felt like Wynn when Sol opened the Bunker and ripped him out of his home so, you know, Wynn's trauma is really my trauma, lol.

Hope you guys are well!

I'll try and get more updates up! I'll be in the hotel for up to 2-3 weeks! At the moment, it's looking like I might move somewhere in California, to Dallas, Texas (where my best friend is au-pairing), or I might come to the conclusion that it will be best on my mental well-being to go home. Either way, I'm going to work so hard on this season! Thank you for reading!

Also, do you guys like the new cover!?

10/05/21.

"No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." - Joshua 1:5.